CheatCC says: "On their own, the individual components of Black Sigil may not dazzle, but taken as a whole, this game is shaping up to be a substantial offering for serious RPG gamers to watch out for. Had it been released in the GBA's heyday, the game might have been filed under must-have. With flashier gaming fare and newer concepts pushing the DS upward and forward, Black Sigil may have some trouble standing out among a broader audience. Still, a compelling story and solid RPG trappings are what will shine through in the end, even if innovation and accessibility aren't particularly high."
Gamertell has posted its DS game recommendations for the 2009 holiday shopping season.
The list is divided by ESRB ratings.
TRB writes: "Old school role playing games seem to be the sure hit on the Nintendo DS. The simple gameplay is easy for portable gaming and the time to complete these games is either double or triple the length of modern games. Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled offers the style of gameplay that fans of the most praised game on the SNES will jump right into and find plenty to love."
GameShark writes: "Late last year, Chrono Trigger DS came along and reminded players how great 2D RPGs used to be. Unfortunately, it also had another unintended effect: making Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled look like a unimaginative carbon copy. Even though it's a delightfully detailed and colorful RPG, Black Sigil lifts the entirety of its graphical style, character movements, and overall aestetic directly from Crono's adventure. While imitation is the highest form of flattery, this modern day retro revival is reserved for hardcore enthusiasts only".
